KUNG FU PANDA 2 Junket: Back in LA... in awesome style!

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Its great to be back in LA. The smell at LAX was all too familiar. I swear I would know I was in LA even if I was blind. 

 Couldn't wait to catch up with some of the folks here. My schedule was like packed everyday with just catching up with friends. Solid! Apologies to those of you whom I am unable to meet on this trip. But no worries, maybe on my next trip ey. ;) 

The first order of business is, well... business. Checked into the Langham Huntington in Pasadena where the folks at Paramount have put us up. Very nice hotel. I found out I have friends working there. A childhood friend and another family friend are both working there as hospitality staff. What a big coincidence! Then again, it is probably the best hotel in Pasadena. Says alot about my friends’ abilities ey. ;)

Guess what Paramount gave us… TADA! KungFu Panda 2 hamper! The Bell Boy and I were chatting about how cool the character Tigress was. So he picked out the hamper with Tigress in it for me and put it in my room. Hahahaha… Go Angelina!

On the morning that we shot the junket. I was up at 6am getting ready to become Grandmaster BakXu.

The international press was quite intrigued by my kungfu master outfit. I think I had a French, Vietnamese, German, Australian, and Columbian press trying to get a photo op with me. And even a reporter from Chengdu interviewed me. Whatever for? I also dunno. So there, free international exposure. It pays to be OTT sometimes.

Aussie presenter, dunno-whats-his-name, from Channel 9 (or was it 4? Darn my crappy kungfu memory!!!) trying to get his blackberry camera to work. “Come on matey, Stop muckin around and start shootin!”

We got to work once we arrived at Dreamworks Animation Studios. Of course, PO was there to greet us when we arrived, so we did a little sparring. It’s obvious who won…

…That 'other' fella whose not supposed to be in the shot!!! Didn't even know he was there until after the fact.

Benny, my producer, also trying to get in on the action!

So it seems that Dreamworks Studios is one of the top 10 companies to work for in America as rated by Forbes magazine. And one of the reasons? They conduct FREE Yoga classes for employees during lunchtime!!!

During lunch, I had the chance to hang out with PO, (alone, this time!). He was having girlfriend problems and was seeking my advice.

Then of course, I had the chance to interview the cast of the show!!!

Jack & Angelina (Yes, we’re on a first name basis, and they call me KungFu Master!) were super friendly and down-to-earth. No airs whatsoever.

Unfortunately, Due to behind-the-scenes logistical constraints, I did not manage a picture with Jack and Angelina. It happens, so no sweat. But I did manage to get one with the very epic, Gary Oldman!

I must say, for an actor who takes on such dramatic roles, he sure has a good sense of humour.

After lunch was the press conference. We didn’t really need to stay but I thought what the heck, we’ve come this far, might as well stick around to see if there was anymore interesting stuff that we could shoot. There wasn’t. :s

But jack Black gave me some air time during the press con. Like 3 seconds worth. He was answering a question posed to him and he suddenly said, “I’m sorry, I can’t remember the question cos I'm really distracted by the Kung Fu Master sitting on the fifth row.” To which everyone turned to look at me. I struck a GongXi FaCai pose, the crowd laughed. Gary Oldman laughed the loudest! I think he got a real kick out of seeing a real Kung Fu Master. Hahahaha!

From left to right: Dreamworks Chief Executive, Jeffrey Katzenburg; Angelina Jolie plying Tigress; jack Black playoing PO; Gary Oldman playing Lord Shen, and Kung Fu Panda 2 Director, Jenifer Yuh Nelson.

Here’s a little story about Jennifer Yuh Nelson. Her progression in the Kung Fu Panda franchise is pretty awesome. She was an animator on the first Kung Fu Panda, doing the anime 2D flashback sequences. And she did such a good job conceptualizing and realizing it, she was asked to direct the second installment! Certainly did doing the Asian community proud!;)

By the end of the day, we were yearning for a good dinner. So we headed on in to Old Town Pasadena at an Italian restaurant called Mi Piace. Damn crowded for a weekday night, but the food was awesome!

Hazel Seah, our coordinating executive (from United International Pictures, who is distributing the film in Asia) joined us for dinner.

Lovely dinner, to end off a day of hard but fun work!

Watch out for the Kung Fu Panda 2 trailers on Channel 5 soon!:) 

AT

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